1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: Life Audio, Well, how do their friends and faith listeners? 2 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for tuning into the Bible Explain 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: Podcast on this lovely Wednesday morning. We're gonna be talking 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: about Second Chronicles fourteen and the reign of King Asa 5 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: and how God helps him defeat an army of Ethiopians 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: that totaled a million people. We'll get into it now. 7 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: Before I get into the episode, here is a quick 8 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 1: word from our sponsors. Okay, guys, so don't forget. The 9 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: next week is the Bible Explained Christmas Candlelight podcast episode 10 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: that I do every single year. It is a mouthful, 11 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: but it's always a really fun episode that I just 12 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: love doing for you guys, and so I'm definitely excited 13 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: to bring you this year's episode. I just can't believe 14 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: that it's almost Christmas already. You know what, I did 15 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: not decorate my house this year. Didn't. In fact, I 16 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: still have one fall decoration up. It was like this 17 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: little stained glass door hanging thing that I made a 18 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: couple months ago at this like class I did with 19 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: my sister in law. I still have it up. You know, 20 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: I just didn't get around to decorating this year because 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 1: I've been so busy. This is the first year ever 22 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: since I've been married that I have not decorated for Christmas. 23 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: In fact, even when I lived with my parents, I 24 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: always decorated for Christmas. My parents always had Christmas to 25 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,119 Speaker 1: core up. And this year, I don't know, just didn't 26 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: get to it. And so I have my tiny little 27 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: porcelain tree out, you know the ones with the lights 28 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: that you stick in there. That's about all my Christmas 29 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: decre this year. But favor listeners, you tell me did 30 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: you decorate for Christmas? And do you go all out 31 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: for Christmas? I'd love to hear about that. But let's 32 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: read Second Chronicles fourteen today, one through fifteen, the entire chapter. 33 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: It is a short chapter. We're gonna be talking about 34 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: King Asa, his life and also this massive victory he 35 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: has over the Ethiopian army. So let's get into it. 36 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: As usual, I'll be reading from the web version of scripture, 37 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: but grab the version of scripture that you prefer this morning, 38 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 1: and also your cup of coffee or your cup of 39 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: tea to share with me as we read Second Chronicles fourteen. 40 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: So Abaijah slept with his fathers and they buried him 41 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: in David's city, and Asa, his son, reigned in his place. 42 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 1: In his days, the land was quiet for ten years. 43 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: Asa did that which was good and right in Yahweh, 44 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 1: his God's eyes. For he took away the foreign altars 45 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down 46 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: the Ashera poles, and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the 47 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command. 48 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: Also he took away out of all the cities of 49 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 1: Judah the high places and the sun images, and the 50 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: kingdom was quiet before him. He built fortified cities in Judah, 51 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: for the land was quiet, and he had no war 52 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: in those years because Yahweh had given him rest. For 53 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: he said to Judah, let's build these cities and make 54 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 1: walls around them with towers, gates bars. The land is 55 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 1: yet before us, because we have sought Yahweh, our God. 56 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: We have sought him, and he has given us rest 57 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: on every side. So they built and prospered. Asa had 58 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: an army of three hundred thousand out of Judah, who 59 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand out 60 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: of Benjamin, who bore shields and drew bows. All these 61 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: were mighty men of valor Zara. The Ethiopian came out 62 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: against them with an army of a million troops and 63 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: three hundred chariots, and he came to Merisha. Then Aesa 64 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: went out to meet him, and they set the battle 65 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: in array in the valley of Zephythah. At Merisha, Asa 66 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: cried to Yahweh, his God, and said, Yahweh, there is 67 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: no one beside you to help, between the mighty and 68 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: him who has no strength, help us, Yahweh, our God, 69 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: for we rely on you, and in your name we 70 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: are come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God. 71 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: Don't let man prevail against you. So Yahweh struck the 72 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: Ethiopians before Aesa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 73 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: Asa and the people who are with him pursued them 74 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: to Jarar. So many of the Ethiopians fell. They could 75 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before Yahweh and 76 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: before his army. Judah's army carried away very much booty. 77 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: They struck all the cities around Jurar, for the fear 78 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: of Yahweh came on them. They plundered all the cities, 79 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: for there as much plunder in them. They also struck 80 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: the tents of those who had livestock and carried away 81 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem. Asa 82 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: is one of my favorite kings in Israel's history. I 83 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: just think he's a really interesting guy. He's one of 84 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: those kings that starts out really good, but then you know, 85 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: over time kind of falls away from Yahweh a little bit, 86 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: not so much so as some of the other kings, 87 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: but you know, Asa was a human being. He had 88 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: his problems, obviously, but he started out as a great king. 89 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: And he was the son of a Bijah. Remember we 90 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: talked about Abijah earlier this week, and Bijah was a 91 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: weird die, like real weird. He was another king that 92 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: kind of started out okay, but he only reigned for 93 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: three years because he was not a very good king, 94 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: and so God didn't bless Abijah's reign. But the one 95 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: really nasty thing we talked about on Monday is the 96 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: fact that Abijah's mother is also listed as the mother 97 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: of Asa. Okay, so that's just gross, Like what, I 98 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: don't know what happened there. I don't know if there 99 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: was some sort of incest, going on because Maka, who 100 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: was Abijah's mother, wanted to keep the throne for herself 101 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: because queen mother was a very important role, very powerful 102 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: role in Israel. So I have no clue what happened there, 103 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: But yeah, Maka was both the mother of Abijah and 104 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: also the mother of Asa. That's talked about in First 105 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: Kings fifteen. And we know that Maka was not a 106 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: good woman because she was an idolatrous. She was part 107 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: of the cult of the Asherah, which was a sex 108 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: cult by the way, So let's read First Kings fifteen 109 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: nine through fifteen. It says in the twentieth year of 110 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: Jereboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah. 111 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: He reigned forty one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name 112 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: was Maka, the daughter of a Bishalam. Asa did that 113 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: which was right in Yawi's eyes, as David his father did. 114 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: He put away the Sodomites out of the land and 115 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: removed all the idols that his father had made. He 116 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 1: also removed Maka, his mother, from being queen because she 117 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut 118 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: down her image and burned it at the Brook Kidron. 119 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: So yeah, that shows a little bit more about ASA's 120 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: mother and father. You know, they were idolators. They introduced 121 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: these foreign gods into Israel and were worshiping them, and 122 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: specifically Maka was part of the Ashera sex cult. But Asa, 123 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: who was a Yahweh follower, knew these things were wrong. 124 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: So after Abaijah, his dad died, Asa took the throne 125 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: and immediately starts this reform in Israel. He's like, no, 126 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: we're not going to worship these false idols that my 127 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: dad and mom, who's also my grandmother brought into this land. 128 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: We are going to get rid of them and we 129 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: are going to worship Yahweh. And that's what it says 130 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: in our passage for today, Second Chronicles fourteen, verse two. 131 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 1: Asa did that which was good and right in Yahweh, 132 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: his God's eyes. For he took away the foreign altars 133 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: and high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the 134 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: Asherah poles, and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God 135 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: of their fathers, and to obey his law and command. Also, 136 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: he took away out of the cities of Judah the 137 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: high places and the sun images, and the kingdom was 138 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: quiet before him. So because of this reform that Asa 139 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: was doing, God ends up blessing ASA's reign. He reigned 140 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: for a very long time, and also God gave him rest, 141 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: it says for ten years, because Asa was seeking Yahweh 142 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: and encouraging Israel to seek Yahweh as well. But notice 143 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: something here. It says in verse three that he took 144 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: away the foreign altars and the high places. In fact, 145 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: twice in this little passage it mentions that he took 146 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: away the high places in verse three and also in 147 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: verse five. But if you go back to First Kings fifteen, 148 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: it actually says that Asa did not remove the high places. 149 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: Here's what this says. One Kings fifteen fourteen, Asa cut 150 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron, 151 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: but the high places were not taken away. And then 152 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: again in Second Chronicles fifteen, verse seventeen, it says the 153 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: high places were not taken away out of Israel. Nevertheless, 154 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. So 155 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: what is happening here? Because in Second Chronicles fourteen it 156 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: says that the high places were taken away, but then 157 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: in Second Chronicles fifteen and First Kings fifteen it says 158 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: they weren't taken away under King Asa. So how do 159 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: we remedy these two things. Well, there's two possibilities. The 160 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: first possibility is that Asa removed certain high places because 161 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 1: we know that there are two types of high places. 162 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: The first type of high place was for the foreign idols. 163 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: You know, on the hilltops. People would build these monuments 164 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: to foreign gods and worship at these high places. Essentially, 165 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: it could be that Asa went and destroyed all of those, 166 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: every single monument or high place he found that was 167 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: dedicated to Astrara or to Bail or anything else. Asa 168 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: removed those high places, but he left the high places 169 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: that were dedicated to Yahweh because we know that there 170 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: were high places for that as well. There were altars 171 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: that people would go to to worship Yahweh. But God 172 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,319 Speaker 1: didn't even like those high places, the ones that were 173 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: dedicated to him, because they were mimicking the way that 174 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: pagan nations would worship. You know, the pagan nations would 175 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: build their monuments on top of hills and under green trees. 176 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: And God specifically told his people here is how I 177 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: want worship done. You know, if you're gonna worship me, 178 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: worship me the way I want. Don't imitate or mimic 179 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: these other nations, but worship me truly as an example 180 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: to all of these other nations as to how worship 181 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: is really supposed to be done. You know, God always 182 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: wanted his people to shine a light. He didn't want 183 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,599 Speaker 1: them to imitate the world. He wanted them to be 184 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: a light to the dark world. So God didn't even 185 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: like the high places that were specifically dedicated to him, 186 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: but Asa thought those ones were okay and possibly left them, 187 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 1: which is why it says in Second Chronicles fifteen and 188 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: First Kings fifteen that the high places were not taken away, 189 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: but yet ASA's heart remained loyal to God all of 190 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: his days. So maybe Asa had a misunderstanding of what 191 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: those high places actually were. So that's the first possibility, 192 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: is that he removed the idolatrous high places, but then 193 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: left the high places for Yahweh. But the second possibility 194 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: is that Asa removed all the high places, including the 195 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: ones for Yahweh, but the people with their idolatry constantly 196 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 1: kept rebuilding them, and towards the end of ASA's life, 197 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: he kind of started getting hands off with it and 198 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 1: didn't fight the people anymore and was just like, fine, 199 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: you know, whatever, you guys want the high places, then 200 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: you can have the high places. And it could be 201 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: that Asa compromised a little bit with his people, but 202 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: his own personal relationship with God remained steadfast, and he 203 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: never worshiped any other idols all of his days. It 204 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: actually says in Second Chronicles fifteen that the heart of 205 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: Asa was perfect all his days. Now we know that 206 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 1: that does not mean that Aso was sinless. Right, whenever 207 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: scripture talks about somebody having a perfect heart, that is 208 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,959 Speaker 1: not talking about them never sinning. That means that their 209 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: heart is for Yahweh. They are worshiping Yahweh without worshiping 210 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: other idols. Which is why it says that Solomon's heart 211 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: was not perfect with Yahweh all of his days. You know, 212 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: Solomon loved Yahweh. You talked about his life. He would 213 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: go to the temple two times a day very religiously, 214 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: and you know, sacrifice these sacrifices to God. And he 215 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: would celebrate all of the Jewish holidays and feasts very religiously. 216 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:18,559 Speaker 1: But yet his wives turned his heart away from God. 217 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: And so while doing all of this worship to Yahweh, 218 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: he starts burning incense to these other foreign gods. His 219 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:30,079 Speaker 1: heart was not perfect with Yahweh. It was led astray. 220 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: But Asa, his heart was perfect with Yahweh. All of 221 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: his days, he only ever worshiped Yahweh, and that was it. 222 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: So Asa was a good king. He was one of 223 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: the best kings that Israel had since the days of David, 224 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: and God ended up blessing his reign completely. It says 225 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: right here in verse six. The kingdom was quiet before him, 226 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: so he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land 227 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: was quiet, and he had no war in those years 228 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: because Yahweh had given him rep So he said to Judah, 229 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 1: let's build these cities and make walls around them with towers, 230 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: gates and bars. This land is yet before us because 231 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: we have sought Yahweh, our God. We have sought him, 232 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: and he has given us rest on every side. So 233 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: they built and prospered. So even Asa recognized that God 234 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: was blessing him, that God was blessing Judah because Judah's 235 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: heart was starting to turn a little bit more towards 236 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: Yahweh once again. And the king has a lot to 237 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 1: do with that, obviously, as to whether or not Israel 238 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: is going to worship God or worship some other idol. 239 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: Even though it's very possible that the people of Judah 240 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: did not really turn their hearts back to Yahweh, because 241 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: it kind of says that in the Book of Jeremiah 242 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 1: that God was irritated with Judah since it's a foundation, 243 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: because the people's hearts were always led astray from Him 244 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: no matter what, even if there were good kings, the 245 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: people never changed their minds. So yes, it very well 246 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: could be that Asa was the one leading this, but 247 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: the people weren't really following. And yet in spite of that, 248 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: God's mercy was toward Asa because of ASA's religious reform. Essentially, 249 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,959 Speaker 1: so Israel was being built up and prospered. And this 250 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: is where ASA starts to build fortified walls around all 251 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: of these cities, which would have helped Israel survive any 252 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: incoming attacks. In verse eight, it said that Asa had 253 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: an army of three hundred thousand out of Judah, who 254 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand 255 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: out of Benjamin, who bore shields and drew bows. All 256 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: these were mighty men of valor. So Asa had approximately 257 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: five hundred thousand warriors in his army. You know, that's 258 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: a decent sized army, but it's not that big compared 259 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: to the Ethiopian army that tries to take Israel. In 260 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: just the next verse, Zara the Ethiopian came out against 261 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: them with an army of a million troops and three 262 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: hundred chariots, and he came to Marisha. So at this 263 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: point in history, the Ethiopians are gaining a lot of power. 264 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: They're also called the Kushites sometimes you'll see that in scripture, 265 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,119 Speaker 1: depending on the version that you read. Well, the Ethiopians 266 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: are gaining a lot of power, specifically in Egypt, and 267 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: they were kind of on a conquest. It said that 268 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: they had a million troops and three hundred chariots, and 269 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: they decide to set their sights on Judah. They're like, 270 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: that's a good place to go. You know, this weak 271 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: little country with only five hundred thousand men. We are 272 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: going to take that country. So this guy Zara comes 273 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: up against Judah for no reason other than to take 274 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: that land for himself. And so Asa goes out to war. 275 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: And by the way, this would have been after the 276 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: ten years of peace. Asa goes out to war, and 277 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: he sets the battle in array in the valley of 278 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: Zephytha at Marisha. Asa is terrified and so in verse eleven, 279 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: it says that Asa cried to Yahweh, his God, and said, Yahweh, 280 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: there is no one besides you to help, between the 281 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: mighty and him who has no strength, help us, Yahweh, 282 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: Our God, for we rely on you, and in your name, 283 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: we are come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God. 284 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: Don't let man prevail against you. And I love that prayer. 285 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: I think it's an absolutely gorgeous prayer. It's a prayer 286 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: of humility. You know, Asa knows that under ordinary circumstances, 287 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: he is not going to win this battle. A million 288 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: troops versus five hundred thousand troops. You know you're not 289 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: gonna win that battle. So Asa cries out to God. 290 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: He cries out to Yahweh because that is who he 291 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: always worshiped, and he says, there is no one who 292 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: can help me except for you. You help the mighty man, 293 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: and you help the person who has no strength. So 294 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: help us, Yahweh, our God, We rely on you. Man. 295 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: I love that. I love that prayer. We are come 296 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: against this multitude in your name. It's also a prayer 297 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 1: of faith, you know, it's not just a prayer of humility. 298 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: But Asa is truly relying on God here. He knows 299 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: that in ordinary circumstances, this is a death sentence for 300 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: him and his men, especially considering the fact that the 301 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: Ethiopian army was very powerful at this time. This was 302 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: a death sentence he was going into. So he cries 303 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 1: out to God in faith, trusting in God to help 304 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 1: him in spite of the odds against him. And God 305 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: listens to ASA's prayer. It says, Yahweh struck the Ethiopians 306 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled, and 307 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: we have no clue how God did this. You know, 308 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:51,199 Speaker 1: sometimes scripture explains how God helps in battle, you know, 309 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: for example, like God will confuse people and they'll start like, 310 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: you know, killing each other, or he'll send some sort 311 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 1: of like natural disaster. But in this case, it does 312 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: not say how God struck these Ethiopians. He could have 313 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: actually used the army of the Judites. He could have, 314 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,360 Speaker 1: you know, given them the strength of ten men each 315 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: individual person. We don't know how he struck the Ethiopians, 316 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: but it says, the Ethiopians were terrified and they fled, 317 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: and so Asa and all the people who are with 318 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: him pursued them to Jurrar. So many Ethiopians fell that 319 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: they could not recover themselves. They were destroyed before Yahweh 320 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: and before his army. So notice that it mentions that 321 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: this army of ASA's was actually Yahweh's army. I really 322 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: enjoy that. You know, God is all powerful and he 323 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: can do whatever he wants to do. And yet because 324 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: God is so humble, he often lets people share in 325 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,719 Speaker 1: the glory of what he does. God was truly the 326 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: one protecting his people, and yet his people were able 327 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: to share in that glory. And that's what He does 328 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: for you and I as well. You know, he uses 329 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: us to do things for him, exciting things for him. 330 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 1: He does that all the time. And so God's army, 331 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: the Judites carries away, it says, much booty. So they 332 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: were able to go and essentially loot the Ethiopians because 333 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: they were just falling down dead all around them from 334 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: whatever God was doing. And so the Judites also struck 335 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: the cities around Jarar, for the fear of Yahweh came 336 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: on them. So it sounds like the people in the 337 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 1: cities of Jurar actually like fled. You know, they saw 338 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: the Israelites and they ran for their lives. And so 339 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: the Israelites were able to essentially go into these cities 340 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 1: and actually take the plunder from these cities. So not 341 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:53,199 Speaker 1: only did the Ethiopians completely lose this battle, they lost tremendously. 342 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: They even lost cities because the Judites go in, they 343 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: plunder all the cities because there's much plunder in them. 344 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: They also struck the tents of those who had livestock 345 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and then 346 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: returned to Jerusalem. And if anybody is listening to this, 347 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: being like, oh man, you know the Israelites they should 348 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: have stopped before striking all of these homes and all 349 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 1: of these tents. Well, I say to that the Ethiopians 350 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 1: shouldn't have instigated this fight to begin with. You know, 351 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: the Ethiopians started it. They're the ones that went to 352 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: battle against Judah in the first place. So in my mind, 353 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,720 Speaker 1: Asa and his army were just finishing what the Ethiopians 354 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: had started. Asa was not being mean by protecting his 355 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: people and you know, taking advantage of the victory that 356 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: God gave Israel ASO is not being mean during all 357 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 1: of this. In fact, I did a YouTube video on 358 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: this a couple years ago that people were really really 359 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: mad about. I talked about God's kill count and how 360 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 1: you know, people will use that to be like, oh, 361 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: God is so mean. You know, He's struck on a 362 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 1: million Ethiopians or something like that, and so I talked 363 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: about all of that on the YouTube video and I 364 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: essentially showed how each individual, you know, quote unquote kill 365 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: count of God is actually just a really stupid argument 366 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: and God always had a reason for his judgment on people. 367 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: He is not a cruel God. He is not a 368 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: mean God that just strikes people dead all the time, 369 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 1: even though that's what you might hear from the world, 370 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: because the world doesn't understand who God is, and they 371 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 1: certainly don't read the Old Testament, they don't read the 372 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,360 Speaker 1: Bible and see for themselves that God is very very 373 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: kind to people. You know, I was just reading Jeremiah 374 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: in my personal reading, and God actually called the tribe 375 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 1: of the Ammonites a daughter in Jeremiah what was it, 376 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 1: I think forty eight or something. It was really striking 377 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,640 Speaker 1: to me, you know, because the Amonites were constantly fighting 378 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: against the Israelites pretty much for their entire existence, and 379 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 1: yet God recognized other nations as being his creation, his people. 380 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: So God is very kind to everybody. He doesn't play 381 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: any favorites ever, and so when we read stories like this, 382 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 1: it's really important to understand the context as to why 383 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: God struck down all of these Ethiopians. There was a 384 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: reason for it. It was to protect Israel, who is 385 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: completely innocent in all of this. All right, guys, before 386 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 1: I end the podcast, here's a quick word from our sponsor. Well, 387 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: faithful listeners, if you have any questions about scripture or 388 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: you have a prayer request, please send it my way. 389 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 1: You will find my email address listed in the description 390 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 1: of this episode. And I love hearing from all of you, guys, 391 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: and I do try to get back to you. I 392 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: am kind of not caught up on my emails, so 393 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 1: some of you have reached out and I haven't gotten 394 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: back to you yet, so forgive me for that. I 395 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: will try to get to all of my emails by 396 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: the end of this week. But faithful listeners, have a 397 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 1: fantastic and wonderful the rest of your day. I will 398 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,640 Speaker 1: see all of you guys tomorrow for an episode from 399 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: one Timothy, Happy Listening and God bless. I just want 400 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: to take a second to thank the team at Life 401 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: Audio for their partnership with me on the Bible Explain podcast. 402 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: In fact, if you go to lifeaudio dot com you 403 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: will find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 404 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 1: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.